They are among eight who received the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce's "Outstanding Teacher Awards" at the annual banquet last night at Wilhelm Lt. Catering, which co-sponsored the event that drew 350 people.

Several businesses joined to provide the $300 cash awards to each of the eight teachers.

The idea for the banquet began six years ago, when the chamber and Larry Wilhelm wanted to provide a way for the community to recognize teachers. Unlike awards that come from school administrators or professional organizations, these come from the community, said Jill Kartalia, administrative assistant for the chamber.

After 98 nominations arrived from parents, teachers and students, a team of eight retired teachers and eight business people chose the eight winners.

The judges screened nomination forms and other materials the nominees submitted.

The nominees also were asked how they help students learn by building their confidence and how they prompt students to apply what they learn to real-life situations.

Mr. Mongold said he tries to provide his learning disabled students with living proof that they can succeed.

"In inspiring them to learn, I treat them like young adults for whom I have expectations," he wrote to the judges.

"I encourage them to have those same expectations of themselves."

Ms. Welle is on a committee at Northwest Middle School that is drafting a social guidelines list of behavior and skills that will help students thrive in the academic arena.

"Along with creating and producing artwork . . . students are focusing on the behaviors that help them to meet with success," she said.

"I chose this profession and I love it," Ms. Lanzi wrote. "[My students] did not choose to have a disability, however slight or severe, so I help them to face their challenges and to see the 'I cans.' "

"I feel young children need to think of school as a happy place. Therefore, I try to build my program around children's strengths," Ms. Smith wrote. "Children move into different groups to work on skills depending on their needs, rather than being tracked all year long in the same group."

North Carroll High School choral teacher Charles O'Day was among the 98 nominated.

Although he did not win an award, he had the distinction of drawing the largest crowd of supporters anyone at the chamber can remember, Ms. Kartalia said.

About 40 people, half of them students and the rest parents and fellow teachers, bought tickets to the banquet to honor Mr. O'Day.